30 Years of Building a Strong Foundation for the Future of Our Region |
Spring 2016 |
Partners support array of regional initiatives
Department of Education awards $180,000 to advance educational alignment in Greater Minnesota
The Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) has awarded the Northland Foundation, along with the five other Minnesota Initiative Foundations, a total of $180,000 to carry out a Pre-K to Grade 3 Alignment initiative.
The Pre-K to Grade 3 Alignment Initiative arose from observations by The McKnight Foundation, the six Minnesota Initiative Foundations, and MDE that, while school districts have been progressing in Pre-K to 3rd Grade alignment work, a lack of funding streams can make it challenging. The Northland Foundation is using its $30,000 toward PreK-3rd Grade training and grants.
“Districts in northeastern Minnesota are working hard aligning community, school, and family partnerships to improve outcomes for young students, and Northland is pleased to be able to offer them additional resources,” stated Tony Sertich, President of the Northland Foundation.
Delta Dental supports oral care and nutrition outreach
A $10,000 grant from Delta Dental of Minnesota will help the Early Childhood Initiative coalitions in northeastern Minnesota to reach out in their communities to child care providers, parents, grandparents and others to provide information on oral health care and good nutrition, which have a lasting impact on lifelong healthy development.
Grant recipients were selected based on a number of criteria including the program’s innovative way of improving access for underserved populations in Minnesota, the opportunity to promote and expand preventive and education services and the ability to measure results.
“On behalf of the 12 coalitions across our rural region, we thank Delta Dental for their support to improve young children’s health and wellbeing,” stated Lynn Haglin, the Vice President/KIDS PLUS Director at the Northland Foundation.